Box Score POMONA, Calif. – Almost but not quite enough.
Despite outhitting Cal Poly Pomona, the Cougars fell to 5-3 on Saturday afternoon to their inter-regional rival.
Azusa Pacific knocked around the Bronco pitchers for 11 hits while the Cougar hurlers held their opponent to just four. Azusa Pacific left 11 runners on base in the loss. Azusa Pacific put at least one runner on base in seven of the nine innings.
Ryan Santana and Blake James each produced a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
The two and three hitters in the Cougars line-up each went 2-for-4 as Michael Staudinger and Daniel Martin also put together multi-hit games. Martin launched his team leading fourth home run of the year.
On the mound Joel Belk took a tough loss as the junior went 4.2 innings, gave-up three hits and struck out three. Two of his four runs were earned.
The Cougars bullpen was solid for the second straight game. After not allowing a hit last night to the Broncos in 4.1 innings of work; Cal Poly Pomona could only produce one hit off the bullpen duo of Jonathan Velasco and Royal Bradley.
Cal Poly Pomona scored in their first opportunity. They plated two runners on a two-out double by Michael Erb. The score remained the same until the Broncos scored two more in the fifth inning. Both runs were unearned as Kyle Garlick and Jacob Bernardy crossed the plate.
A Staudinger sacrifice fly in the seventh inning sored Blake James for the Cougars first run.
However, the Broncos came back in their half of the frame to push their lead back to four runs when Garlock homered to left center.
Azusa Pacific tried to rally in the ninth inning. Martin hit a two-run home run with one-out to give the Cougars some life. However, the Broncos' J.J. Franklin got the final outs of the game to seal the win for the home squad.